Cocking device for automatic firearms



wall of the casing 1, and which leads to a cylindrical Oskar Schwager and Fritz Herlach, Zurich, Switzerland, space 19 in whcih a cocking piston 20 is mevably assignors to Machine Tool Works Oerlikon, Adminisranged. The piston 20 abuts against a projection 21 tration Company, Zurich-Oerlikon, Switzerland, a comon the gas piston 6. A venting hole 22 communicating P y of Switzerland with the atmosphere is formed in the wall of the cylinl0 drical space 19. Apphcahon December 1952 senal 326398 The charge casing 13 bears against a cap 23, which 3 Claims. (Cl. 891) isremovably attached to the stub shaft 12 and is secured against rotation by a spring loaded lever 26 engaging in a groove in the stub shaft. The cap 23 is The Present invention releltes to a cocking deVice provided with an insulated firing current conductor 27 h for automatic firearms Of the having a breech block leads the firing current from a ontact member actuated by a gas-operated piston. the of the objects 28 on h gun to h l i fi i d i 17 i h L of the present invention 15 the provision of a device of cartridge 14 aligned ith he b re 18,

the described yp wherein at least one p p s charge Each ofthe bores 13a in which the cartridges 14 are' iS provided which communicates With the piston in 811611 arranged contains a sealing ring 29, which is disposed a manner that the gases produced on firing the propelling in an enlarged portion of the bore and abuts against the charge actuate the piston. wall 1a of the casing 1. The portion of the sealing One constructional form of the invention is described ring 29 which is opposite to the propelling charge has a hereinafter wherein the propelling charge is directly conthi w ll 29 hi h i pressed against the ll of the Ileeted With the gas-Operated Piston y a P g enlarged bore by the pressure of the propelling gases to A modified construction is also described hereinafter f m a al, Tow d th opposite end f the ring the wherein the propelling charge communicates through a thi all b com thi ke and forms a shoulder 29b. Passage in the gun Casing With the cylinder f an auxiliary The gas pressure acting against the shoulder 29b presses piston disposed in front of the gas-operated piston. the sealing ring forcibly against the wall 1a of the casing The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, 3 1 during the burning of the propelling charge so that two embodiments of the present invention. In the drawa gas-tight seal is formed. ing: Th casing 13 may be fitted with driving mechanism Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view acting upon a spur wheel 30 in the casing and mechanism of an automatic firearm with the cocking device conof this kind is described below with reference to a modistructed in accordance with the present invention; fied embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one con- The operation of the cocking device is as follows: structional embodiment of the cocking device; In order to cock the gun the charge casing 13 is ro- Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a moditated until a cartridge 14 is aligned with the passage 18. fied cocking device, and A firing current is then passed through the contact piece Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cocking device 0 28 and the firing current conductor 27 to the firing de on the line I-I in Figure 3. vice of the cartridge 14 and the propelling charge 16 Referring first to Figures1and2: is fired. The gases produced by the burning charge The automatic gunshown diagrammatically in Figure leave the cartridge 14 under high pressure and act on 1, is based on the cartridge-carrying revolver principle. the sealing ring 29 which is pressed against the wall 1a The gun comprises a casing 1 in which a revolver cylinder o the C g y the Pressure acting 011 the Shoulder for cartridges 2 is rotatably arranged on a shaft which While at the e time e thin Wall 2911 f the Sealing is parallel to the aXis of the gun barrel 3. The cylinder ring is pressed against the Wall Of the g d P r 2-is formed with a number of cartridge chambers which, of the bore, so that the gap between the charge casing on the rotation of the cylinder, are successively aligned and the wall 1a is completely sealed. with the barrel 3, so that a cartridge in the chamber The propelling gases then how through The Passage 18 aligned with the barrel is fired. The cylinder 2 is rointo the space 19 and force the cocking piston 20 to the tated by a longitudinally movable spring .loaded slide rear. The piston acts upon a projection 21 on the gas- 4 which acts on rollers 5 on the cylinder 2 by means of operated piston 6 and thus pushes the slide 4 to its rear curved cam surfaces. The spring loaded slide 4 is actuposition. Eventually, the cooking piston passes the ventated by a gas-operated piston 6 slidable in a gas-receiving ing hole 22 and the propelling gases can escape to the ,o'q cylinder 7, see Figure 2. Arranged coaxially with the atmosphere, which causes a quick drop of the pressure cylinder 2 there is a cartridge feed sprocket 8 which is on the cocking piston. The slide 4 is then moved back I operatively coupled to the cylinder 2. The cartridges to its initial position by its springs 4a and forces the gas i a e moved from the Sprocket into the cartridge e piston 6 and the cocking piston 20 back to their original here in the y e 2 in two stages y means f p i position. By this reciprocating movement of the slide 4 lions 9, 10 011 theshde the cartridge-containing revolver cylinder is rotated In order to cock the gun, the slide 4 has to be pushed through onepitch the rear. and thls ls done by means of a cockmg Since several cocking movements are necessary to get 2:5 2 Flgure arranged at the from end of the gun the gun ready for firing if the cartridge drum 2 is empty at the beginning, the charge casing 13 is rotated and the h construe-norm! ?m-bodl-ment of the cocking device next cartridge is fired. This action is repeated until a which is shown in detail in Figure 2, an annular casing d th b 1 f h d h 1 13 is rotatably arranged on a cylindrical stub shaft 12 Farmdge algne W1 e arm 0 t 6 gm an t egm on the casing 1. The casing 13 is formed with a num- 1S ready to ber of bores 13a adapted for propelling charge cartridges In Order to rePlaee the cocklng earh'ldges the level 26 14 and the bores 13a are disposed on a circle and are is actuated, whereupon the cap 23 may be rotated and parallel to the axis of the annular casing 13. Each Wi hdr n r a y yp catch 2 The mp United States Patent 6 ill COCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS 2,821,116 Patented Jan. 28, 1958 cases 14 can then be removed and replaced by new cartridges.

In the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4 the propelling gases act directly on the gas-operated piston of the gun instead of through a cocking piston. For this purpose a gas passage 31 leading, from thebore ofthe barrel 3 to, the gas cylinder 7 must :be closedduring-the cockingoperation since otherwise part of the propelling gases Wouldescape to thebarrel bore. In abore 33 in the casing 1 running transversally-to the gas-passage 31 a slide-34. is movably arranged and is subjected to the action of a spring35. The spring 35 bears against a screw 36,, a. projection 36a. on which limits the travel of the slide in one direction.. Inthe'otherdirectionth'c travel of the slide is limited by a shoulder 33a on the ring 29; The

slide comprises a passage 34a and *if theslide': is" in its normal. position, i. e. if it is pressed-against the shoulder 33a .by the action of the spring -35; thepassage 34a .is

aligned with the-gas -passage31.- I An angled passage34b leads from thefront walli-of the sli'de -34'facing the pro-, pelling charge -to theside of the*slide whichfacesthe gasoperated piston 6.-' The passage-34b is arranged in such a manner, that when the slide 34 is'in'the closing posir tion i. eowhenit -rests against the projection 36a 'on' the screw 36, the -passageleadsinto-the lower portion -31a' of thega-s passage leading to-th'e'gas piston 6, whereby the upper portion of the gas=passage 31 leadingto the barrel bore is closed. A'port 7a in the gas, cylinder 7 serves to vent the propelling-gases to the atmosphere after the gas pistonihasbeen accelerated through a certain distance.

Otherwise, the constructionof the cocking device is similar; to that described above'with reference'toFi'gures 1 and 2.1.

The'd'riving mechanismfor the chargecasin g. shown in l Figure -4, consists of a slide37 actuatedby means (not shown), which comprises a pawl 39*bearing against a spring 38 and engaginga gear 30 fastened to the charge carrier'1-3. Thenumber of teeth of the gear 30Iis ,the

same-as thenumber of cartridges in the 'chargecasings Therefore, the latter is rotated by one charge bore pitch with every reciprocating .movementof the slide 37. A pawl 41 'is'rotatably arranged on a pin'42 in a recess in the body 23 and is held in engagement with the gear 30. by a spring 43 and prevents movement of ,the-geaipin one direction.

The operation of the cocking device is as follows:

In order to cock the gun, the cartridge opposite to the passage 33 is fired. The propelling gasesyproduce'. the

pressure necessary for sealing the sealing ;ring.29 ,.a's .de-=.;. scribed with respect to the embodiment shown in; Figu re s" 1 and 2, and act upon the'slide 34. The latteris pressed to the rear by the gas pressure untilit bears against the projection 36a on the screw 36. In this position, shownin Figure 3, the passage 34bcornmunicates withthe portion 31a of the gas passage adjacent to the gas cylinder 7, while the other portion 31 of the gas passage leading to thebarrel bore is closed. The propelling gases pass through the passage 34b and the portion 31a of the gaspassage to the space 7 and actuate the gas-operated piston. When the latter has moved through a certaindistance, the port 7a in the gas cylinder is opened'and the gases can escape to the atmosphere. dropped sufficiently the slide 34 is returnedto its normal position by the spring 35 so that the two portions 3131a,

of the gas passage are again interconnected.

In order to rotate the charge casing '13 the slide 37 must be reciprocated by a member which is not shown; On the upward movement of the slide 37 the pawl-39 rotates against the action of the spring 38 -and, slides over one tooth-0 the gear 30, which latter isprevented from rotating by thesnring-loaded-pawl-'41 During-thereturn movement or the slide 37 the-pawl 39 engagesbehind-the" tooth on the gear30'and rotatesthe latter by one pitch.-

Since the number of teeth of the gear 30 is the sameas the number of cartridge, bores in the charge casinggrthe: succeeding cartridge;isrnoved into. the: firing position.

After the propelling pressure. has.v

The two constructions described above are,'- of :course, only two out of many possibilities for the practical realization of the invention. might also be made flat and slidable, and thus the charges could be arranged along a straight line.

We claim:

1. In an automatic firearm having a barrel; a fluidpressure operated cocking device-comprising a cylinder,

a piston slidablesin said tcylinderand defining: an inner" space within a part of said cylinder, separate sealing means" movably mounted in said 'space and-adapted -to operatively connectwit-hsaid piston; a cartridge-receiving charge casing; two' separate passage-forming means for supplying fluid pressure to said space, said passage-form'- ing means being gconnectedPatnseparate locationsrto said cylinder part, said sealing means separating said locations, one of said passage-formingmeans being connected with said barrel to operate said cocking device by fluid pressure derived from said barrel and loading said piston, the otherone of saidpassage-forming.means being connected with said charge casing to operate saidcocking device by .fiuidpressure produced by said cartridgeand loadingsaid sealing means, whereby pressure fluid derived from said barrel 'is' prevented from escaping, into said'cha'rge casing lay-said sealing means.

, the second-mentioned piston preventing the transmission 40 of pressure fluid from said space to said charge casing.

3. In an automatic firearmh'aving abarrel and a cocking device; 2a fluid-pressure driven actuating device for the-cocking device; said actuating device comprising a cylinder and axiallyalined pistons. movable in said cylinder' and having adjacent end surfaces defining a space within said cylinder, one of said pistonsgb'eing operatively connected with said cocking; device, a-rotary charge casinghaving formed*thercima' plurality of elongated cartridge-receiving; bores, each "of said-bores being adapted.

to be rotated "into' an operative position in which it is in alinemenwwith said cylinderand pistons; means transmitting' press-ure fluid'idevelope'd during firing of the cartridge in:the'cliarge'casing-to the'other one of said pistons,-'whereby-the-'first-mentionedpiston is actuated by the-'second-mentioned' piston; and means transmitting pressure fluid *develo'pedin-the barrel during firing of projectiles to said space,--the second-mentioned piston preventing the transmission of pressure fluid from said space to said charge casing.

References-Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,772,066 Beaujard Aug. 5, 1930 2,011,144. Coiiman Aug. 13, 1935 2,091,672 Cleereman Aug. 31, 1937 2,221,706. Havill Nov.. 12, 1940 2,267,501 Holek .Dec. 23, 1941 2,293,043 Coffman Aug. 18, 1942 2,356,304 Da Costa Aug. 22, 1944 2,409,623. Grant u Oct. 22, 1946 2,590. nn6l1 .Ma.r.- 5, 952

FOREIGN PATENTS 355,767 GreatsBritaina Feb. 21 1930 577,987. I GreatBritain.M NN; June 1111946 For instance, the charge carrier- 

